Parking space row outside supermarket ends in tragedy as military veteran dies from injuries
A military veteran has died after allegedly being physically attacked during an argument over a parking space outside of a shop.
Earl Hollins, 80, was allegedly assaulted by Anthony Ray Boyce, 57, on Friday during the disagreement in a Food Town car park in Harris County in Houston, Texas.
Boyce allegedly drove away in Hollins’ car after the attack, according to the Harris County Sherriff’s Office.
Hollins suffered severe head trauma, fell into a coma and was not expected to recover, his family told Houston ABC station KTRK in Houston. He was pronounced dead on Saturday at a local hospital.
The HCSO said it’s investigating the altercation between Hollins and Boyce, including how the two men may have been acquainted before the incident.
Hollins’ niece, Elma Hollins-Washington, told local media: “What he [did], it wasn’t right…It wasn’t human.
“Someone was saying that he knew the guy because they always used to be around Food Town.
“You took something great from us…something that we will never get over.”
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Boyce and Hollins were both store regulars and acquaintances, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Saturday.
Police said the two men got into an argument over a parking spot and, during the altercation, the 80-year-old was struck in the head.
Boyce fled the scene in a maroon Ford F150 truck with distinctive tan or white running boards, reported Click2Houston.
Meanwhile, Hollins was rushed to hospital with head trauma, where he fell into a coma.
Boyce was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, serious bodily injury.
He was booked into Harris County Jail with his bond set at $200,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on January 14.
Police said that he could now face additional charges following Hollins’s death.